Signal operating switch



July 26, 1932. A. J. GERHART SIGNAL OPERATING SWITCH Filed May 19. 19302 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY July 26, 1932. A. J. GERHART SIGNAL OPERATINGSWITCH Filed May 19, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. UW Q;

ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 26, 1932 UNITE STATES ARTHUR J. GERHART, OF LORAIN, OHIOSIGNAL OPERATING SWITCH Application filed. May 19,

tion is to provide a signal operating switch that is so constructed andmounted for attachment on an automobile as to permit the properactuation of the switch by the operator of the vehicle withoutnecessitating the removal of the hands from the steering wheel thusenabling the vehicle to be maintained under proper control at all times.

A further and salient object of the present invention is to provide asignal operating switch that is operatively connected with theaccelerator foot pedal, the switch being normally locked in an operativeposition when the accelerator foot pedal is in its normally raisedposition,the locking means for the switch being released when theaccelerator foot pedal is depressed, thus enabling the operator toeffectively actuate the circuit closing means to either of the directionsignals mounted on the vehicle for warning approaching as well aspursuing drivers when a turn in either direction is about to be made. Afurther and important object is to provide a signal operating switchthat includes a stationary contact mounted in the floor board at eachside of the accelerator foot pedal, a pivoted foot engaging plate beingmounted adjacent each stationary contact and carrying co-acting contactso that when the foot of the driver is moved to either side toselectively actuate the pivoted plate, the contact carried thereby willbe brought into electrical engagement with the adjacent stationarycontacts to close the circuit to the V appropriate direction signal.

. Other objects and advantages A further object is to provide a signaloperating switch of the above mentioned character which is of suchconstruction as to permit the same to be readily and easily installed onan automobile without necessitating any material alterations, the switchbeing at all times positive and eiiicient in its operation as well asstrong and durable yet inexpensive in its manufacture.

of the present invention will become apparentfrom the 1930. Serial No.453,598.

following description when taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

In the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters indicatecorresponding parts throughout theseveral views:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the signal operating switch embodying myinvention showing the same in its locked inoperative position.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional View taken substantially on theline 2-2 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the accelerator footpedal depressed and one of the foot engaging plates in its operativeposition and with one pair of contacts in electrical engagement.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 44of Figures 1 and 2. r v r Figure 5 is a similar view taken approximagelyon the line 55 of the same figures, an

Figure 6 is an elevational view of the direction signal per se.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodimentof my invention, the numeral 1 designatesail-automobile foot accelerator pedal that is adapted for verticalmovement through the floor board 2 in the conventional manner. For thepurposes of the present invention, a pair of opposed lugs 3 extendlaterally from theshank of the foot pedal, it being understood, ofcourse, that the floor board 2 is cut out to accommodate the lugs 3and'this feature is clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawings.

My improved signal operating. switch in cludes a pair of stationarycontacts denoted by the numerals i and 5, respectively, the same beingmounted in the floor board- 2 at opposite sides of the foot acceleratorpedal 1 and being further supported in insulating blocks 6 secured insuitable openings in the floor board as suggested more clearly in Figure3. The lower ends of the stationary contacts are in electricalconnection with left and right turn signallights 7 and 8, respectively,which signal lights are mountat their lower edges adjacent thestationary contacts 4 and 5, respectively, and the movable contacts aresupported on the respective foot engaging plates by suitable bracketssuch as is shown at 1 1-. The movable contacts 10 are electricallyconnected to the storage battery 15 which constitutes the source ofelectric energy and the electrical connections between the contacts andthe signal lights and the source of current supply is clearlyillustrated in the wiring diagram shown in Figure 3.

"A sectional bar affords an operative connection between the respectivefoot engaging plate and the foot accelerator pedal, the bar that isarranged on the left hand side of the foot accelerator pedal beingdenoted by the numeral 16 while the opposite bar is designated generallyby the numeral 17. The segments of each bar are hingedly con nectedtogether and the outermost segment of the bar 16 is hingedly connectedto the lower end of the foot engaging plate 12 in the manner as is moreclearly shown in Figures 1, 3 and 5. An axial coil spring 18 encirclesthe pintle 19 that passes through the registering apertured earsassociated with the adjacent ends of the segmental bar and the footengaging plates 16 and 12, respectively, one end of the axial coilspring engaging against the outer face of the foot engaging plate 12while the other end engages with the upper face of the floor board 2 fornormally maintaining the foot engaging plate 12 in a vertical position.A stop forming lug 20 is associated'with'each'foot engagingplate tolimit the inward swinging movement thereof. The foot engaging plate 13is connected to the outer end of the sectional sliding bar 17 in thesame manner as the outer endof the segmental bar 16 is connected to thefoot engaging plate 12.

The innermost segment or section of each bar is 'slidable through aguide strap 21 that is secured to the floor board on each side of thefoot accelerator pedal and as is shown very clearly in Figure 1 theslidable segmental bars are not in alinement with each other and theinner opposed edges of the inner ends of these bars are notched out tocooperate with the locking lugs 3 when the foot accelerator pedal 1 isin its raised'posisay. the foot accelerator pedal. 1 is raised so thatthe lugs 3 are disposed within the respective notched out portions'ofthe sliding bars.

When the foot pedal 1 is depressed to the position shown in Figure 3 sothat the lugs 3 are out of engagement with the notched inner ends of thesliding bars 16 and 17, the segmental bars are then free to slidelongitudinally and the hinged connections afiord a break jointarrangement between the sections and when the operator moves his foot tothe left, then to engagement with the foot engaging plate 12, said platewill swing downwardly so that the contact 10 will be brought intoengagement with the contact 4 thus closing the circuitto the signal lamp7 and indicating that a left hand turn is about to be made. In a similarmanner, when a right hand turn is to be made, the operator moves hisfoot to the right into engagement with the plate 13, causing said plateto move downwardly and to bring the contact 11 into electricalengagement with the'stationary contact 5 and this will close the circuitto the signal lamp 8 to give a signal that a left hand turn is to bemade. The oil spring 19 will return the foot engaging plate and thecontact carried thereby to its normal position when the foot is againbrought into position on the foot accelerator pedal 1 when the car isstanding still, and the foot accelerator pedal is in its raisedposition, the lug 3 will then be arranged in looking engagement with thenotched inner ends of the sliding bars, 16

and 17. 7

It will thus be seen from the foregoing de scription that I haveprovided a signal operating switch that is controlled-by the foot of theoperator eliminating the necessary of having to remove the hands fromthe steering wheel when it is desired to give a signal that a turn ineither direction is to be made. Furthermore the simplicity of my switchenables the same to be readily and easily installed on a vehicle withoutnecessitating any material alteration and the same will at all times bepositive and efficient in carrying out the purposes for which it isdesigned.

While I have shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is tobe understood that minor changes in the size, shape andarrangement ofparts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described the invention what I claim is: g c

1. A signal operating switch comprising in combination with anautomobile foot accelerator pedal, a pair of stationary contactsarranged on opposite sides of the pedal in spaced relation thereto,movable foot engaging members mounted adjacent the respective stationarycontacts, and contacts carried by the foot engaging members for,selective engagement with the respective stationary contacts, andco-acting means between the foot accelerator pedal and the foot engagingmembers for locking the latter against movement when the pedal is in itsraised position.

2. A signal operating switch comprising in combination with anautomobile foot accelerator pedal, a pair of stationary contactsarranged on opposite sides of the pedal in spaced relation thereto,movable foot engaging members mounted adjacent the respective stationarycontacts, contacts carried by the foot engaging members for selectiveengagement with the respective stationary contacts, slidable barsoperatively connected at their outer ends to the respective footengaging members, and co-acting means between the inner ends of saidslidable bars and the foot accelerator pedal for locking the barsagainst sliding movement when the foot accelerator pedal is in itsraised position.

3. A signal operating switch comprising in combination with anautomobile foot accelerator pedal, a pair of stationary contactsarranged on opposite sides of thepedalin spaced relation thereto,movable foot engaging members mounted adjacent the respective stationarycontacts, contacts carried by the foot engaging members for selectiveengagement with the respective stationary contacts, slidable barsoperatively connected at their outer ends to the respective footengaging members, and co-acting means between the inner ends of saidslidable bars and the foot accelerator pedal for locking the barsagainst sliding movement when the foot accelerator pedal is in itsraised position, said last mentioned means including lugs extendinglaterally from the shank of the foot accelerator pedal, the inneropposed ends of the slidable bars being arranged on opposite sides ofthe shank and being notched to receive the respective lugs.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

ARTHUR J. GERHART.

